Fire detecting apparatus



Oct. 24, 1939. s. N. KouLlcHKov 2,177,493

FIRE DETECTING APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 SERGE MKBUL /cf/ko v INVENTOR By p4. Meow/- ATTURNEY s. N. KouLlcHKov 2,177,493

FIRE DETECTING APPARATUS I Filed May 28, 1936 4 Sheets-Shet 2 l 7 @a 9 n 69 @3 $7 7 72 42 f a6 96 9/ 344. I

$2 "2 L1 Ml fa 5 To Y 33 r f7 49' lof I t /4/ /42 si SERGEN/oL/L/c/Moz/ INVENTOR BV QM P- mmv Y ATTORNEY @1.24. 1939. s. KouLlcHKov 2,177,493

FIRE DETECTING APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /76 v5/m5 NKouL/cH/fov INVENTOR By yah )mow/rf ATTORNEY Oct. 24, 1939. s. N. KoULlcHKov FIRE DETECTNG APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 orwwb WV MRMW wm-m m OVWT N f1-1 M w mw S Patented Oct. 1 9-39 ,PATENT AOFI-gicle 2.171.493 ma nE'rEc'rlNG APPARATUS Serge N. Koulichkov, New York, N. Y., assigner of A thirty per cent to Elmon C. Gillette, New York,

Application May 28, 1936, Serial No. 82,310

6 Claims.` (Cl. 177-455) My invention relates to re detecting apparatus and has particular reference to apparatus employing photocells and thermoelements.

'I'he object of my invention is to provide an apparatus which will have a photocell with a circuit -and relay for sending signals, so arranged thatlthe relay will be energised by a moving light only. Such an arrangement is necessary in order to prevent receiving signals when the pho- 10 tocell is subjected to ordinary changesV in i1- lumination, bright sun, etc. The fire of any origin, as a rule, rises more or less rapidly in the form of sheets of name or sparks. At the day time the re may bepreceded o'r accompanied by clouds of smoke, also more or less rapidly rising, thereby having the same effect on the photocell. An ordinary photocell'generate's a direct current when illuminated by a stationary or moving source of light. I construct my photocell in such manner, however, that it will produce alternating current when illuminated by a light moving 'in a certain direction. For this purpose I provide my photocell' with photosensitive grids at a distance apart and in the path of lightrays, the grids being formed of parallel bars with slots between them. The result'of such an arrange'-v ment is that a light, or an image, moving across the' grids, produces a flickering elect, being bro- 80 ken up by the grids, which will therefore generate an intermittent or pulsating current. I direct this current into the primary winding of a transformer, which converts it into an alternating current. It is evident that no current $5 will be induced in the secondary of the transformer if the primary receiv a steady direct current, such as may be generated by the illumination from the sun, moon, etc. i

The frequency of pulsations may be increased by the introduction of condensers in the primary i circuit.

I prefer to arrange the grids in a horizontalv direction as the re and smoke rise more or less vertically thereby producing the greatest eiiect on the horizontal grids. l

Another object of my invention is to provide a photocell whose contacts are connected in series with a thermocouple, both the photocell and the thermocouple having their contacts connected 50 with corresponding relays. These relay contacts a're connected in series with a signal sending apparatus so that the latter becomes operative when both, the photocell and the thermocouple, are 'energized. With this arrangement signals are @transmitted only in case 'a light is accompanied by a rise in temperature, and the apparatus will not be operative if it receives light from such objects as automobile headlights, even if they are moving, rising clouds of fog, etc.

' Another object of my invention is to provide 5 a housing for the photocell and thermocouple rotatively mounted' and connected with a mechanism for rotating the housing at a steady rate for scanning the horizon for fires. For this purpose I provide a gearing and a motor, either elec 10 tric or spring operated, and also provide a wind motor for charging the battery, supplying current to the motor, or for winding the spring if a clock mechanism is used. In order to render the action of my photocell more effective, I pro- 15 vide the gearing of an intermittent type, so as n to cause the housing to stop for short periods every few degrees of its rotation.

Another object of my invention is to -provide a mechanism for stopping the rotation of the 20 housing for a certain length of time when the photocell is energized in order to have suflicient time for sending signals to a central station.

Another object of my invention vis to provide means to transmit signals by radio to a central control station when a iire has been detected, indicating also the direction or azimuth of the fire. For this purpose I provide a recording mechanism at the central station, indicating on a moving sheetof paper the signals as they are received from each detecting apparatus.' I also provide means for sending separate signals when the housing with the photocell passes in its rotation through a deiinite point, preferably north. By measuring the distance on the paper between the iire signal and the north signal it is possible to establish the azimuth of the place at which the iire originated.

As a modication, I also provide. means for sending different signals for each position f the 40 housing in its rotation,4 thereby directly indicating the azimuth of the iire.

Another object of my invention is to provide means to operate the radio transmitter and to use the electric current when there is a re only, and to render the north indicating signals operative when the iire signals are being transmitted only.

Another object of my invention is to provide means to send control signals at certain intervals of time as an indication that the apparatus is properly functioning.

Another object of my invention is tc provide an arrangement with my photocell and thermocouple for .sending re alarms 'in buildings. For 55 this purpose employ a stationary housing with my fire detecting elements and I also employ mirrors in order to enlarge the area served by the detecting apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide means controlled by my re detecting element for operating an ordinary telephone apparatus so as to send an alarm to a telephone exchange, this means being applicable to any type of telephone apparatus. l

As is well known, forest fires cause a great damage, destroying valuable timber, endangering lives and propertyA in villages and cities situated `in wooded areas, also ruining the land for reforestation and cultivation.

According to statistical data for the United States. in 1926-1930 there were on the average 156,183 forest fires every year, destroying annually 41,538,876 acres of forests and causing an annual damage of $62,831,423. There was little change in the subsequent years, and in 1934, for instance, there were about 42,200,000 acres destroyed.

The damage would have been much greater if there were no steps taken to prevent the forest lires. Every year a larger area of forest lands becomes protected by lookout stations employing watchmen, constantly scanning their assigned areas for lires. Thus, for the period from 1926 to 1930 there were 63.9% of protected forest lands, yet the-damage to the unprotected areas greatly exceeded the damage to the protected forests: while the rst was on the average $51,- gal per annum, the second was only $11,306,-

The present method of fire protection is not very eiective, too much dependence being necessarily placed on the watchfulness of the men on the lookout stations; and, besides the cost of vmaintaining such lookout stations with wages to the men for day and night shifts, with relief men also on the payroll, is very high.

With my invention it is possible to render the re detection entirely automatic, with more thorough scanning of the respective areas regardless of the prole of the country, operating continuously day and night and for a relatively longer period every year, in any kind of weather.

My system employs radio'apparatus so that it does not depend on the availability of telephone service for the detection of forest iires and does not require construction of special transmission lines. It is self contained and has its own means .for recharging storage batteries used with the radio apparatus.

My system in a modied form is also applicable to the detection of fires in buildings and houses, beingy much #more sensitive than ordinary iire alarms, `as it gives warning signals immediately after the flames and smoke rst appear, so that they can be easily extinguished by watchmen or other attendants. My system can be use'd to send signals directly to re stations by special wires, radio or telephones. In the latter case my re detecting apparatus is connected with relays v and magnets operating special attachments to a telephone apparatus for lifting the receiver oi its hook and performing other necessary operations to warn the telephone exchange operator, including dialing an automatic call apparatus or inserting a coin if a pay station is available.

'I'he installation of my re detecting apparatus, being simple and inexpensive, may go far toward considerable reduction if not elimination of the danger of lires in houses, especially in such buildings which are used only part of the time, including factories, warehouses, oillce buildings, churches, etc.

The detecting apparatus can simultaneously ring the bell to a watchman and send special signals by a telephone to the exchange or other oillce, fromv which immediate help can be sent or ordered. Any type of telephones can be used, as well as a radio transmitter, sending signals on a special wave, there being a separate transmitter for each building, or one transmitter for a group of buildings. My photocell can be used for detecting any moving objects. It can be used, for instance, for sending signals when a train passes a certain point, for recording passing vehicles, airplanes, boats, etc.; also for operating traffic lights when an automobile approaches a crossing in places Where traiilc is light. Itmay be used as a burglar alarm, for detecting the presence of a moving warm object in the dark.

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying speciiication and drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of my iire detecting apparatus in connection with a rotating housing and a wind motor-generator, Fig. 2 is a detail view of my photocelLrFig. 3 is a sectional elevation of anI apparatusfor detecting forest iires corresponding to Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a detail view of a. central flre recording apparatus, Fig. 5 is another view of the same, Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a modified device, Fig. '7 is a view of another modication, Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view oi a device for sending special signals for each position of the rotating apparatuaFig. 9

is another view of the. same, Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a relay, Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of an arrangement for detecting fires in buildings, Fig.- 12 is a diagrammatic plan view oi' the same, Fig. 13 is an elevation of a mechanism for signaling through a portable telephone, Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the same, Fig. 15 is a detail view of the same, Fig. 16 is a front view partly in section of a mechanism for signaling through a wall type telephone apparatus, Fig. 17 is a side View of the same partly in section, Fig. 18 is a detail view of a coin depositing device, Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view of a iire detecting apparatus for houses with a radio transmitter, Fig. 20 is a detail view of a photosensitive grid, and Fig. 21 is a detail view of a recording apparatus employing tuning forks.

My iire detecting apparatus consists of a phoper with cuprous oxide for the grid 3, the grid 2 not being connected to the circuit and servingonly to break up the light in such a case. The

- grid l or both, 2 and 3, may be made of selenium and connected in series lacross a battery. The photocell is supported in a housing 'I having a narrow' vertical slot 8 in one wall. lens I gathers rays III from the slot B and directs A condenser them into a window Il in the cell I, a concave lens l2 being placed in the window for straightening the rays into a parallel-sided beam. The

leads 4 and 5 are connected to the primary |3 of a transformer I4, the secondary -|5 being connected through condensers |5 with a relay I1 in the circuit of leads I8 and |9.

A thermo-sensitive element or thermocouple 20 is also placed in the path of rays from the window or slot 8 and is connected by leads. 2| and 22 with a relay 23 in the circuit of leads |8 and 24.

The photocell and the thermocouple may bef placed side by side as shown in Fig. 1 in which case part of the light from the window 8 may be deflected by a prism 25 which may be also condensing or convex. The slot 8 is protected by an extension 26 on the wall of the housing with a slot 21 in line with the slot 8, the sides of the slots forming an angle a of a few degrees. A mic'a window 31' is placed over the slot.

The housing 1 is connected by a universal joint 28 with a vertical shaft 29 journaled in a bearing plate 30 supported in the upper portion of a stationary housing 3|. The shaft 29 has a gear 32 in mesh with a pinion 33 connected by a gear 34 with a pinion 35 on the end of a shaft 35 of an electric motor 53 connected by leads 31 and 38 with a storage battery 39. A generator 49 is mounted on a vertical shaft 4| supported in a bearing 42 and is provided with a rudder 43 for directing it with the wind so that propeller blades of a wind motor 44', mounted on the end of the generator shaft, will always face the wind. An automatic charge regulator 45' is placed in the charging circuit of leads 45 and 41 extending from brushes 48 in contact with collector rings 49 on the end of the shaft 4|. f

The gear 34 and pinion 35 are of a form adapted for intermittent rotation as shown in Fig. l. With thisarrangeinent the housing stops at short intervals, usually a few degrees, for a few seconds in order to enable a light from a iire Ato produce its effect on the photoelectric cell and thermoelement.

The leads |9 and 24 are .connected to brushes 42 supported on a flange 43' on the shaft 29.-

The brushes are in contact with collector rings 44 and 45 mounted on an insulation plate 45 supported on the plate 39 in the upper portion of the stationary housing 3|. A radio transmitter 41 with one or more radio tubes'48' is mounted on a iioor plate 49 of the housing 3|. 49' is supported on top of a tower made of beams 58 situated so that the housing 1 in its rotation can scan a large area of forest land. In order to follow the curvature'of land in a hilly country, the housing 1 is provided with rollers `5| following a circular or ring-shaped cam 52, formed in accordance with the contour of the land.

A flexible apron 54, preferably made of a waterproof material, such as rubber, is attached to the lower edge of the rotary housing 1 and fits over the conical upper portion of the stationary housing 3| in order to protect the inner mechanism from rain, dust or snow.

The heated filament of the tube 48' is connected with the battery 39 through a relay switch 55. The latter is connected with a rod 55 moving with slight friction inside of magnet coils 51 and 58. An armature 59 on the rod may be attracted by either magnet.4 The coil 51 is connected with the battery through a switch 58 which is normally open under action of a compression spring 5I. The other coil 58 is connected in series with the transmitter 41. The other end of the rod 55 is pivotally connected with an arm 52 rotatively supported by one end on a pivot 53 and having on The plate athe other end a star wheel 54 which can turn in the'forked end ofthe arm 52. A lug 55 on the wheel engages the switch 59, closing it once during each revolution of the wheel, when turned in the direction of an arrow 55. The wheel, when moved outward on its pivot by the rod 55, is engaged by a finger 51 the latter being shown diagrainmatically in Figure 1 extending from the housing 1 or from any suitable rotative part connected with the housing, so that the wheel 64 is turned through an angle between its two teeth with each revolution of the housing 1.

The collector rings 44 and 45 can be short circuited by a relay' switch 58 having a rod 14 sliding with a friction in magnet coils 59 and 10 and having an armature 1| which can be attracted by either coil. 'I'he coil 59 is connected in series with the radio transmitter 41, and the coil 10 is connected with the battery 39 through a switch 12. The arm 13 of the switch is moved by the nger 51 once during each revolution of the housing 1, closing the switch 12.

A star wheel 15 is rotatively supported on a shaft 15 and is engaged by the nger 51 once during each revolution of the housing 1. A pinion 11 on the shaft 15 is in mesh with a gear 18 having a nger 19 adapted to close a switch 80 for short circuiting the rings 44 and 45. The gears between the wheel 15 and the finger 19 are so arranged that the switch 88 is closed once in a few hours; for instance, once in six hours. The switch 88 is normally open under action of a spring 8|, while the switch arm 13 is open under action of a spring 82 (8| and 82 being compression springs).

Radio signals are transmitted by an antenna 83 to a central control station where there are separate relays for each station with a detecting apparatus, different transmitters being tuned to send different wave lengths so that each receiving relay responds to one particular sending station only. The relays (not shown) operate magnets 84 pressing arms 85 with pencils or pens 85 against a sheet of paper 81 continuously moving between .cylinders 88.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows.

The housing 1 continuously rotates, scanning the horizon with its slot 21. The driving mechanism is so arranged that it takes a few minutes for one complete revolution, with 50 or 60 stops, so as to make steps of about 6 or 'I degrees between the stops. The radio transmitter is not operating during the rotation of the housing, except that once in 6 hours (or after other suitable intervals) the arm 19 closes the switch 8|) for a short time, thereby short circuiting the rings 44 and 45 and connecting the cathode circuit of the tube 48' in the transmitter 41 with the battery. The transmitter may be of any construction and its circuits 'are not shown, it may have a by-pass resistor for the current to flow into relay coils 59 and 58. Its tube 48' may represent an oscillator for sending radio waves through a tuned circuit of an ordinary type connected with the antenna 83, the waves being generated when circuit is closed for the cathode of the tube by the` relays |1 and 23 or by the switch 58 or 8|', while the filament is heated by -4,5 current.

the armature 59, closing the switch 55 and enF ergizing the lament of the radio tube.l 'I'he relative positions of the linger 61 and lug 19 are so arranged that the finger 61 closes the switch 12 s when the slot 21 passes through the north or zero degrees, and the lug 19 closes the switch 80 a short time before the switch 12 is closed, so that the filament of the tube is already heated for'sending a short signal to the corresponding m relay and magnet 84. As a result, a short line will be drawn by the corresponding pencil 86, indicating that the particular detecting apparatus is properly functioning. The signal will last only until the switch 12 is closed, by the lug u 61 when the coil 10 is energized, attracting the armature 1| and disconnecting the switch 68. The filament will remain hot for a somewhat longer time, until the wheel 64 is turned so that its lug 65 closes the switch 60, energizing the coil 30 51 and disconnecting the switch 55. .In view of the fact that the thermocouple relay contactsare connected in series vwith the contacts of photocell relay, it follows that no signals will be sent if there is a rise in temperature 25 unaccompanied by a corresponding lighting effect and vice versa. A steady illumination, however, even if accompanied by Aheat (forinstance, direct or reflected sunrays) will not produce any signals, as a direct current, generated by the photocell, will not pass through the transformer I4. 'I'he relay I1 will be energized only in case a beam of light rays moves across the grids 2 and a as shown in dotted unes in Fig. 2, the effect being that the grid 3 `will alternately light and dark, thereby generating an intermittent or pulsating current. The latter will produce alternating current in the secondary of `the transformer I4.. It is evident that with horizontally arranged 40 grids 2 and 3, a pulsating current will be'generated by an image of an object moving in a vertical direction, or at an angle to the horizon. Any light moving horizontally, such as headlights of an automobile, will notv produce a pulsating 'I'he current will be generated not necessarily by a bright moving light, but also by the image of an object darker than its surroundings, causing a flickering change in the illumination of the cathode in the photocell. Clouds of smoke, therefore, will cause current to be generated, regardless of whether they are white or black there being several alternations during the time when the radiant energy from the re vpasses through the window 21. vClosing of the relays |1 and 23 will short circuit the rings 44 and 45 with a result that current will flow into the transmitter 41' and coils 58 and 69, closing the switches 55 and 68. The.

switch 68 will be disconnected as soon as the 50 housing 1 turns with its slot 21 directly to north as it was explained above. The switch 55, however, will remain closed during several revolutions of the housing 1, maintaining the fllament of the tube heated until the `lug.65 of the wheel 55 64 opens the switch 60.

Because of a certain length of time required for the lament to become properly heated (not less than 30 seconds), the rst signal received at the centralstation cannot be used for the 70 determination of the azimuth of the place where there is a fire. During the next revolution, however, when the filament is already functioning, a

` signal will be sent immediately as the housing turns with the slot 21 in the direction of the fire. The corresponding pencil 86 will then begin to draw a line o n the moving strip of paper 81. The switch 68 will remain in a closed position even after the housing turns away from the re, and the pencil will continue to draw the line until the housing reaches north position with 5 the slot 21, when the linger 61 will close the switch 12, disconnecting the switch 68 and stopping the signal.

'I'he signals will be repeated with every revolution of the housing 1, and the corresponding penlo cil 86 will every time draw a new line. 'Ihis line. when measured on a corresponding scale, will give the --exact azimuth of the place where the fire was observed. The directionin which the fire was observed by the apparatus can then be u plotted on a map on which different apparatus are indicated. If the signals are received from two or three apparatus, then the intersection of the corresponding directions on the map will give the exact location of the lire.

A modiedgarrangement for recording signals is shown in Fig. 21. Here a row of tuning forks 89 are supported so that their ends with pencils 90 are placed above the paper 81. 'I'he tips of the pencils are located at a very small distance from ythe paper so that they do not leave any marks if the tuning fork remains still. 'Ihe pencils begin to touch the paper, however, when the forks vibrate. They are made for different tunes, and the receiving apparatus is arranged to repro- 30 duce audio frequencies transmitted by various stations. 'I'herefore when a transmitting station sends its own audio frequency, converted into a radio frequency, the common signal received reproduces a. tune, which causes a corresponding fork to vibrate by resonance, drawing a line on the paper. With this arrangement it is possible to use one common wave length for all apparatus. The tuning forks may be also placed sidewise in relation to the paper, having their penciltouching o the paper all the time and drawing straight lines, turned into zig-zag when a fork is vibrating.

A modified arrangement of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 6 in which the housing 1 is not shown. A switch 9| is provided for the motor 53 45 and is opened by a collar 92 on a rod 93 which slides in magnet coils 94 and 95. A brake drum 96 is mounted on the shaft 36 of the motor and is engaged by an arm 91 on the end of the rod 93. An armature 98 on the rod is attracted by the 5o coils.

A jaw clutch 99 is tted on the lower end of the rod 93 engaging a toothed wheel |00 rotated by a clock mechanism |0|. A finger |02 on the Wheel l00closes a switch |03. An extension |04 on the rod 93 opens the switch |03 in its downward movement and opens a switch |05 when moved upward. The coils in this modification are shown connected in parallel with the radio trans The operation of this arrangement is as follows.

As soon as the lire detecting relays are closed, the magnet coils 69 and 94 will be energized. 'I'he switch 68 will be closed and the switch 9| opened, disconnecting the motor 53, which will end in mesh with a gear the switch |03, energizing the coil 95. 'I'he rod 93 will accordingly move downward, releasing the brake and closing the motor switch 9|, stopping also the rotation of the wheel |00. The time of one revolution of the wheel is arranged so that the vhousing 1 will remain stationary for a few minutes in order to send radio signals and to bring the pencil 88 against the paper 81 in the recording apparatus. The pencil will continue drawing the line until the. switch 12 is closed at the north position of the housing. With this arrangement .the record will be made the first time when the image of a ilre falls on the detecting elements in the housing, and the recording line will be drawn with every revolution of the housing as long as the fire lasts.

Another modification is shown in Fig. '1. 'I'he housing 1 (not shown) is operated by a shaft |06 extending from a clock mechanism |01 operated by a spring |08. The latter is connected by an ordinary winding ratchetl wheel (not shown) with a shaft |09 having a bevel gear ||0 on the other The latter is mounted on the'end of a vertical shaft |l2 extending from a bearing bracket ||3 under the plate 49 and having a bevel gear ||4 on the end in mesh with a gear ||5 on a shaft H3. The latter is journaled in bearings ||1 and has a rudder 43 on one end and a windmotor 44' on the other'. .The wind motor keeps the spring |08 wound at all times and thereby maintains constant rotation of the housing 1. An auxiliary electric motor ||8 is provided connected by gears ||9 and |20 with the shaft |09. A switch |2| connecting the motor with the battery 38 is normally open but may be closed by a plunger |22 pushed outward by the spring |08 when the latter is completely unwound. This may happen if there is no wind for several days, in which case the motor rewinds the spring. The motor stops again as soon as the spring is wound enough to,`

switch 55 is closed by a rod |23 under action of a magnet coil |24. 'I'he rod |23 at the same time revolution in several minutes or during several revolutions of the housing 1, and during that time the tube remains energized, until a n'ger |25 closes a switch |30, energizing a coil |'3I which moves the rod upward, disconnecting the switch 55 and disengaging the gears |21 and |28. The rod |23 remains by friction in either of its positions..

A switch 13 closes the circuit through .the transmitter 41 being pressed by the finger 61 against a contact point |32 once during each revolution of the housing 1 and in the north position of the slot 21 (Fig. 1). With this arrangement, therefore, the.iire indicating signal is sent only while the housing is directed toward the iire by its slot 21, and asecond signal is sent when the housing passes the north position. Two points or short dashes arerecorded on thel paper 81 on the receiving apparatus, and the distance between these two points determines the azimuth of the fire. No signals are transmitted unless there is a re, except that once in 6 hours (or once in 12 or 24- hours, depending on the gearing arrangement) a finger |34, rotated by the clock mechanism, closes a switch |33 for sending a control signal. The switch |33 is closed for a spillciently long time for the tube to become operative.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate an arrangement for sending' individual signals for each position of the housing in which the latter stops for a short time because of the arrangement of the intermittent gears 34 and 35. For this purpose a lead |35 from the transmitter 41 is connected with a brush |36'l touching a commutator |31 turning at the same rate as the housing 1 and having the same number of segments as the number of stops of the housing during one revolution. The segments are" insulated from each other and are in contact with brushes |38 connected by wires |39 with brushes |40 in contact with insulated contact rings |4|. The number of wires |39 and rings |4| corresponds to the number of the segments on the commutator |31. The rings |4| are mounted on a drum |42 connected by gears |43 with the commutator so that the drum makes several complete revolutions while the commutator turns through an angle corresponding to one segment.

The rings |4| have slots |44 lled with insulation and spaced so as to produce short and long interruptions in the current through the'transmitter thereby sending signals in the form of dots and dashes in the Morse or other system. The signals are diii'erent for each position of the housing so that the azimuth of a fire is indicated directly.

My detecting elements can be also used for detecting fires in houses. The cell I (Fig. 11) is mounted by a swivel |45 on a bracket |46 supported on a wall I 41 of a building. The cell is inclined so as to be directed into a corner where a re may originate or so as to control the largest area from which rays may be collected by a condenser lens |48. A relay |1 closes the circuit from a battery 39 or other source of electric current, on an electric bell |49. Leads |50 may be also extended to other signaling devices. Mirrors |5| may be employed for reaching corners, corridors or other rooms' with the same firedetecting cell.

The leads |50 may be connected to a magnet |52 for operating a signaling mechanism in conas shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15. The telephone is placed on a raised platform |54 on a base |55. The receiver |56 is placed over a hook |51 on the" end of a lever |58 rotatively mounted on a shaft |59 between standards |60. A spring '|6| tends to turn the lever 58 and to raise the receiver oi'ir the hook |62, but the lever is prevented from turning by a post |63 tted under the extension of the lever. The post is pivoted at |64 and has an armature |65 for the magnet |52. When attracted by the magnet, the post takes position indicated with dotted lines, releasing the lever. which comes to rest against a lug |66 with the receiver in the raised position.v Ordinarily the post |63 is -held in the position shown in Fig. 13.

The post |63, is connected by a rod |61 with another post |68 pivoted at |69 and supporting the end of an arm rotatively mounted on a shaft |1| between standards |12. A spiral spring |13 tends to turn the arm |10 into a position shown with dotted lines.` The other end of the arm |10 has a mechanism for turning a dial |14 of the telephone. This mechanism consists of a disc on a shaft |16 journaled in the end portion of the arm |10 and connected with a spiral spring |11 which tends to tum nection with an ordinary desk telephone |53.'

the disc in clockwise direction when placed over at the other end by a head |82. The plunger has an extension |83 adapted'to rest .against thev telephone base |53 when the arm |10 is turned, the plunger in this position releasing the disc |15. The disc has a pin |84 adapted to enter the hole in the dial marked which serves for calling an operator at the telephone exchange. A tapering cam |85 on the disc is adapted to engage the raised hook |86 on the dial.

The magnet |52, when energized, attracts the armature |65, pulling the posts |63 and |68 from under the ends of the members |58 and |10. 'Ihe lever |58 raises the receiver being pulled by the spring |6|, and the arm |10 turns over, pressing thedisc |15 against the dial |14 with the pin |84 entering the hole 0 in the dial. The plunger |80 is pushed upward, releasing -the disc and permitting the latter to rotate under action of the spring |11 until at the end of the rotation the cam |85 meets the hook |86 and,-

climbing on it, raises the disc and the arm l| 'so that the pin`|84 leaves the hole 0, permitting the dial to return into its original position, the call to the operator meanwhile having been made.

A rubber bumper |81 is provided for softening the blow of the arm |10 when it comes to rest against the dial. The bumper is supported o posts |88.

A similar mechanism is shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18 for a wall type telephone |89 with a receiver on a hook |90, a diall |14 and coin slots |9I, |92 and |93. 'I'he hook |90 is engaged by a hook |94 on a sliding rod |95 guided in bearings |96 and |91. A spring |98 tends to raise the rod |95, this spring being stronger than a spring |99 supporting the hook |94 which slides on the rod |95. A latch 200 engages a collar 20| on the rod, keeping the spring |98 compressed and the rod in its downward position. A magnet 202, when energized, pulls the latch, releasing the collar 20| and the rod |95. The latch is pivoted at 203. The other end of the rod is pivotally connected with a link 204 connected at the vother end also pivotally with the end of a crank 205 on a shaft 206 journaled in bearings 201. The shaft 206 carries an arm 208 with a dialing mechanism on the end similar to the one shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15. A shorter arm 209 is also mounted on the shaft 206 and has on the end a coin inserting mechanism consisting of a depression 2| 0 for a coin or slug 2|| retained by a spring 2|2 with a tongue 2|3. The spring is made so that it releases the coin when the tongue 2|3 strikes the surface of the telephone box |89, releasing the coin, which then is thrown into the slot |93. The spring |99 is provided in order to have a shorter travel for the hook 94 than for the rod .|95, the latter being sumciently long to operate the/crank 205.

It is understood. of course, that the arm 208, as well as the arm |10, may be placed at the side of the telephone if it is preferable to render the telephone more accessible. l

A cover 2|4 is placed over the shaft and bearings with slots 2|5 for the arm 208, and a hood 2|6 over the arm 209 in order to render it dimf cultly accessible so as to prevent the theft of a .coin or slug held by the spring 2|2.

'I'he arm 208 is omitted if the telephone has no automatic dial; likewise, the arm 209 is omitted if there are no coin slots. In the latter case the mere raising of the receiver with no one to speak serves as a warning to the telephone ex change that there is a re in the building, especially if the operation takes place at night or at a time when the building is supposed to be unoccupied.

Further modifications of my device may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, as, for instance, by applying my apparatus for signaling the passage of a train, boat, a person or animal at night, etc.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fire detecting apparatus comprising a housing with a slot in its Wall, an element in the housing adapted to generate electric current when subjected to the action of a radiant energy from a fire, means to rotate the housing, an electric circuit including a radio transmitter adapted to send signals, means to close the circuit when Athe element is energized, means to-maintain the circuit closed, and means to open the circuit termined compass position in its rotation, the length of the signal thereby corresponding to the angular distance of the radiation emitting point to said compass position.

2. A re detecting apparatus comprising a housing with a slot in its wall, anelement in the housing adapted to generate electric current when subjected to the action of a radiant energy from a flre, means to rotate the housing, an electric circuit includinga radio transmitter adapted to continuously send signals, relays adapted to close the circuit by the current generated by the element, a relay adapted to be closed bythe current in the circuit for closing the vlatter independently of the relays in the element circuit, and means on the housing for-opening the circuit when the housing slot is directed against a certain point on the horizon, the length of the continuous signal thereby corresponding to the anguiar distance between the iire and the iixed point on the horizon.

3.- A fire detecting apparatus comprising a housing with a slot in its wall, an element in the housing adapted to generate electric current when subjected to the action of a radiant energy from a re, means to rotate the housing, an electric ,circuit including a radio transmitter adapted to continuously send signals, means to close the circuit by the element when it is energized, a wheel rotatively supported at the housing projections on the wheel, means to turn the wheel through a fraction of one revolution with each revolution of the housing, and means to close the circuit for the signals for a short time by the projections of the wheel when the housing completes a predetermined number of revolutions.

4. A iire detecting apparatus comprising a housing with a slot in its wall, an element in the housing'adapted to generate electric current when subjected to the action of a radiant energy passing through the slot from a re, means to rotate the housing, a radio transmitter comprising a radio tube, an electric circuit for energizing the filament in the tube, an electric circuit for generating radio waves by the tube, means to close the two circuits by the element when it is ener- 2,1'}"2,493 housing with a slot in its wall, an element:` in the housing adapted to generate electric current when subjected to the action of a radiant energy and passing through the slot from a re, means to rotate the housing, a radio transmitter comprising a radio tube, an electric circuit for energiz- .ing the filament in the tube, an electric circuit for generating radio waves by the tube, means to close the two circuits by the element when it is energized, a wheel rotatively supported at the housing and having a .plurality of projections, a lug on the housing adapted to engage the projections for turning the wheel a fraction of one revolution for each revolution of the housing, means to maintain the iilament circuit closed after it has been closed by# the element, and means to open the filament circuit by the wheel upon completion of its revolution.

6. A re detecting apparatus comprising a housing with a slot in its wall, an element in the housing, a circuit for the element including a relay, the relay being adapted to be closed when the element is subjected to the action of a radiant energy passing through the slot from a distant `iire, a radio transmitter comprising a radio tube,

a circuit for energizing the lament of the tube, a circuit for generating radio waves by the transmitter, means to close the lament circuit by the relay, means to .close the' Wave generating circuit by the relay, means to retain the iilament closing circuit closed, a toothed wheel, a movable support for the wheel, means tomove the wheel outward by the lament circuit closing means, means to rotate the wheel a fraction of one revolution by the housing with each revolution of the latter, a switch for the lament circuit, and a lug on the wheel adapted to disconnect the switch upon completion of the revolution by the wheel.

SERGE N. KOULICHKOV. 

